Method of and apparatus for atomizing



Aug. 3 1926. F. c. STARR METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1921 [W w wm,

JNVENTOR.

' 7614 ATTORNEYX Aug. 3, 1926.

F. c. STARR METHOD OF AND ,ABPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING Filed June 25, 1921 3Sheets-Shoat 2 I N VEN TOR.

M A TTORNE Y.

F. C. STARR METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMI ZING Filed Jime 25. 1921 3Sheets-Shut :5

7 INVENTOR. 4

1"; .5 L fi A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

FLETCHER COLEMAN STARR, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING.

Application filed June 25,

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of andapparatus for atomizing a liquid or other material by a suitableatomizing medium under pressure, such, for example, as air or steam.

The invention is applicable in its broad aspect to the atomization of anumber of materials, and I therefore desire it understood that theinvention is not to be limited in its use to the atomization of anyparticular material, but for the purposes of this application I willdescribe the invention as applied to a burner or nozzle for theatomization of fuel, such as oil, or fine powdered fuel, for use inheating apparatus.

The invention consists in the novel method and the means for carryingthe same into effect, as will be fully described hereinafter, and thenovelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctlyclaimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated several forms of atomizersembodying the apparatus features of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein Figure1 is a central longitudinal section through an atomizer, in the form ofa fuel burner, for practicing my method and embodying in'a preferredform the apparatus features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is-a view in rear end elevation of the device shown in Figs. -1and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of another embodiment of the sameinvention with the pertinent parts associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view partly in side elevation and partly incentral longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figs. 5 and 6, and

Fig. 8 is a further embodiment of the invention adapted for atomizingpowdered or finely divided material, such, for example, as coal.

Referring to the drawings b characters of reference, and particularlyFigs. 1 to 3, 1 designates a body member preferably provided on oppositesides thereof with integral bosses 2, 3, containing, respectively, ducts5, for the flow of atomizing medium 1921. Serial N0. 480,326.

such as steam or air, and the liquid or fluid to be atomized, in thepresent instance fuel oil, although it will be understood that otherfluids to be atomized may flow through the duct 5. '6 designates asupply pipe threaded nto one end of the duct 4, and by means of whichthe atomizing medium is supplied to said duct, while a pipe 7 threadedinto the duct 5 supplies the latter with the material to beatomized. Theduct 5 extends for a distance lengthwise of the boss 3 and is then 35directed laterally. as at 8, towards the center of the body 1, and atitsinner end communicateswith a chamber 9, preferably cylindrical in formand located at the center portion of the said body. The chamber 9 isadapted to receive a body of liquid or other material supplied theretoby the duct 5. The body 1 is provided at its rear portion with .acentral bore 10 which is screw-threaded, as at 11, which bore 10constitutes a chamber into which the a-tomizing medium under pressure isfed from the duct-4 by means of a branch duct 12. At its rear portionthe bore 10 is closed by means of a plug 13 threaded into said bore, andthe inner face of which plug constitutes the rear wall of the chamber 14constituted by the bore 10. At its forward end the chamber 14 opensthrough the rear wall of the chamber 9 into the latter. Threaded intosaid bore 10 is a plug 15 carrying an injector nozzle 16 having aVenturi bore 17 extending centrally thereof and communicating with thechamber 14, said nozzle 16 extending through the chamber 9 for theproper distance to produce an injector effect on the liquid fed to thechamber 9 through the duct 5, so as to atomize and impel said liquidthrough a passage leading from the chamber 9 in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the body 1. At its forward end and concentric withthe chamber 9 and the injector nozzle 16, is a bore 18, preferablycylindrical in form, and of greater diameter than the said chamber 9,said bore 18 constituting a seat for a plug 19 conforming to said boreand provided with a cylindrical reduced portion 20 forming with the adjacent wall of the bore 18 an annular passage 21 with which the innerend of the duct 4, heretofore, described, communicates, so that a bodyof atomfzing medium flows into and circulates in said passage 21 aroundthe rear end of the plug 19. The plug 19 1s formed in its rear portionwith a mixing passage, consisting of a tapered bore 22 in longitudinalalinement with the bore of said nozzle 16, the forward end of saidtapered portion merging into the rear end of a substantially cylindricalportion, or throat, 23, the forward end of which merges, as at 24, intoa widely flaring outlet mouth. or enlarged chamber, 25 in said plug 19.This chamber 25 may be of any desired shape in cross-section, but I haveshown the same as being circular see Fig. 2).

The arrangement so far described is such that the liquid or material fedinto the chamber 9 by the duct 5 is atomized and propelled by theatomizing medium emitted from the bore 17, into and through the passages22, 23, wherein the atomizing medium is mixed with the atomized liquid.

Means is provided whereby t-hebody of atomized fluid propelled throughthe mixing passages 22, 23, is further atomized and has a whirlingmotion applied thereto as it is delivered from the end of the throat 23.This means preferably consists of one or more ducts 26, one end of eachof which communicates, as at 27, with the passage 21, to receiveatomizing medium therefrom, and the other end of which is located, as at28, preferably adjacent the delivery end of the throat 23. These ducts26 are so arranged as to deliver the atomizing medium tangentiallyrelative to the stream of atomizing medium and atomized material flowingthrough the throat 23, so that the atomizing medium issuing from theducts 26 acts to.

impart a whirling motion to said mixture, and the latter is maintainedin a whirling condition and under pressure in the chamber 25 with theatomized or finely divided material in suspension in the atomizingmedium. If desired, the atomized, whirling mass may be dischargeddirectly into a furnace chamber to be burned therein, in the event thatthe atomized fluid is a combustible fuel.

It will be noted that the fluid under pressure emitted from the bore 17acts to induce a flow of the liquid from the chamber 9 into the mixingpassage constituted by the bores 22 and 23 and to partially atomize andpropel the same through the passage, whereupon, said atomized orpartially atom ized liquid is further atomized and has a whirling motionimparted thereto by means of the atomizing medium under pressure emittedfrom the ducts 26.

Especially in a burner, the outlet end of the device constituted by theflaring chamber 25 is most desirably covered by a curved cover plate 29,having its concave face 30 adjacent the chamber 25, said plate beingheld in place by a. flanged ring nut 31 threaded, as at 32, onto theoutlet end of the body 1. The plate 29 is provided with one or aplurality of perforations 33, providing a restricted discharge orifice,of any desired size, shape or location, in order to give the streamflowing from the chamber 25 any desired shape, or form, and direction.For example, if the stream is to be substantially conical in form, theperforations may be in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but otherarrangements may be substituted without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the nozzle 16 is shown, and describedabove, as being provided with a Venturi bore, which is desirable, inthat the oil or other fluid flowing through the bore 8, and intended tobe atomized, need not be under pressure, as the Venturi eflect producedat the injector will feed tne liquid at the desired rate into the mixingpassage 22. The Venturi form of injector is preferred, but I may, ifdesired,'use the form of nozzle shown at 3i in Fig. l, in which saidnozzle is provided with a cylindrical or straight bore 35, which may beused, provided the oil or other liquid is under suflicient pressure sothat, aided by the inducing action of the jet from the nozzle, theliquid will flow into the mixing passage at the desired rate. Ifdesired, I may employ any suitable form of needle valve 36 threaded, asat 37, through the plug 13, and adapted to cooperate with the bore 17(or the bore 35, as the case may be) to regulate the amount or rate ofatomizing medium fed from the duct 12 to said bore.

I will now describe the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. In these Figures, 38 designates a chambermember consisting of a pipe threaded at its rear end, as at 39, into onemember of a T-coupling 40, to which coupling and chamber oil or otherfluid to be atomized is fed through a supply pipe 41. At its rear endthe coupling 40 is closed by a plug 42 threadedinto said coupling, as at43. member 38 is threaded, as at 44, into a head or body 45, said member38 forming a chamber 46 corresponding to the chamber 9 heretoforedescribed. Located in the chamber 46 is a nozzle member 47 threaded atits rear end upon a supply pipe-48 for atomiz ing medium, such as air orsteam. The pipe 48 extends rearwardly through the pipe 38, centrally ofthe latter, and through the plug 42, suitable packing 49 being provided,and

At its forward end the chamber preferably in the forms. of a venturi asshown.

52 designates a plug threaded, as at 53, into the body 45, said plughaving a central longitudinal bore or passage 54 in longitudinalalinenient with the chamber -16 and the passage 51 in the nozzle 47. Thebore 54 at its rear portion is tapered forwardly, as shown at 5%, thetapered face thereof being substantially parallel to a forwardlytapering outer face 47* on the plug 47, thereby forming an annularforwardly tapering passage between the nozzle and the wall 54. Thepassage 54, in that portion forward of the tapered portion 54*, issubstantially cylindrical, except at the outlet orifice, the latterbeing contracted, as at 55, or given any shape necessary to give thedesired form to the stream emitted from the plug. The plug 52 isprovided with an annular channel 56 which cooperates with an annularchannel 57 in the body to form an annular chamber for atomizing medium.The chamber 57 communicates with a passage 58 in the body 45, saidpassage being supplied with atomizing medium through a supply pipe 59.in this form, as in the forms previously de-. scribed, the body ofatomized liquid fluid propelled by the injector nozzle 47 into themixing chamber formed by the passage 54% is further atomized and has awhirling motion given thereto. For efi'ectin this result, ducts 60 areprovided exten ing from the annular chamber or passage formed by thechannels 56 and 57 to the mixing chamber for discharging forwardly andtangentially directed jets into the mixing chamber, preterably at apoint about midway between the tapered face 54* and the-contractedoutlet 55.

in the form shown. in Figure 8, the invention is adapted to feed andatomize finely divided material, for example, powdered coal, asdistinguished from liquid material. in this form the head 45* isconstructed in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 5 to 7,inclusive, the same being mounted on a pipe 38 corresponding to thepipe'38, and having an atomizing medium fed to said head by a supplypipe 59 corresponding to the pipe 59. The rear end of the pipe 38 isconnected to a casing 63 into which, in longitudinal alinement with theinterior of the bore and the pipe 38 nextends an injector nozzle 64L fedwith steam or air under pressure from a supply pipe 65. The casing 63 isprovided at one side with an inlet 66 connected to a supply pipe orchute 67, which in turn is connected to a hopper 68 for bold ing thesupply of fine material. The material gravitates, or is otherwise causedto be deposited into the casing 63 and is projected therefrom by meansof the injector (it through the pipe 38 into the head 4:5 where thestream of atomizing medium and fine fuel is whirled by jets from one ormore ports (not shown) similar to the ports 60 shown in F ig 5.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 2-- l. The method of ato-mizing, which comprises directing ahigh velocity jet of atomizing medium axially into a passage and therebyinducing a flow into the passage-of liquid to be atomized, anddischarging the mixture of atomizing medium and partially atomizedliquid into an enlarged chamber, maintaining a body of the mixture underpressure in such chamber and further atomizing the partially atomizedliquid and imparting movement to the body of mixture to maintain theatomized liquid in suspension in the atomizing medium by means of a jetof atomizing medium directed into the chamber, and discharging themixture through a restricted orifice.

2. The method of atomizing, which oomprises directing a high velocityjet of atomizing medium axially into a passage and thereby inducing aflow into the passage of liquid to be atomized, maintaining a body ofthe mixture under pressure and further atomizing the partiallyatomizedliquid and imparting a whirling movement to the body of mixture tomaintain the atomized liquid in suspension in'the atomizing medium bymeans of a jet of atomizing medium, and discharging the mixture througha restricted orifice.

3. In a device or the character described, a body having a chamber,means for feeding liquid to the chamber, a nozzle in said chamber andhaving a Venturi bore to deliver an atomizing medium, a mixing passagein line with said nozzle and through which the stream of atomizingmedium and atomized liquid is propelled, and a duct arranged todischarge a jet of atomizing medium into the stream of mixture to imparta whirling motion thereto.

at. In a device ofthe character described, a body having a chamber,means for feeding liquid to the chamber, an injector nozzle in saidchamber and having a Venturi bore to deliver atomizing medium, a valvecontrol-- ling said bore, a mixing pamage in line with said nozzle andthrough which the stream of atomizing medium and atomized liquid ispropelled, and a duct arranged to discharge a jet of atomizing mediuminto the stream of mixture to impart a whirling ,motion thereto. l 1

5. In a device of the character described,

a body having a chamber, means for feeding liquid to the chamber, amixing passage leadcharge a jet of atomizing medium into said passage toinduce a, flow of the liquid from said chamber into and through saidpassage, an enlarged chamber into which the mixtuye of atomizing mediumand partially atomized ing from the chamber,v anozzle set to dis- 2liquid is delivered from said passage, and a duct arranged to dischargea jet of atomizing medium to impart a'whirling motion to the mixture insaid enlarged chamber, and a restricted orifice through which themixture is discharged.

6. In a device of the character described,

a body having a chamber, means for feedarranged to discharge a jet ofatomizing medium to impart a whirling motion to the mixture in saidenlargedchamber.

7. In a device of the character described,

' a body having a chamber, means for feeding liquid to the chamber, amixing passage leading from the chamber, a nozzle set to discharge a jetof atomizing medium into said passage to induce a flow of the liquidfrom said chamber into and through said passage, an enlarged chamberinto which the mixture of atomizing medium and partially atomized liquidis delivered from said passage, a plate forming the end wall of saidenlarged chamber having perforations suitably grouped to shape thestream of mixture delivered from said enlarged chamber, and a ductarranged to discharge a jet of atomizing medium to impart a whirlingmotion to the mixture in said enlarged chamher.

8. In a device of the character described, a body having a chamber,means for feeding liquid to said chamber, an injector nozzle in saidchamber to deliver atomizing medium, a recess in said body, a plugseated in said recess having a mixing passage in line with said nozzlethrough which a stream of atomizing medium and atomized liquid ispropelled, and a duct arranged to discharge a jet of atomizing mediuminto the stream of mixture to impart a whirling motionthereto.

9. In a device ofthe character described,

a body having a chamber, means for feed ing liquid to said chamber, aninjector atomizing medium in such relation to said stream as to impart awhirling motion thereto. 10. An atomizer comprising a body having achamber, means for feeding a liquid to said chamber, a nozzle projectinginto said chamber and surrounded by the liquid therein, a mixing passageinto which the said liquid is atomized and propelled by an atomizingmedium delivered by said nozzle, and a duct to discharge a jet ofatomizing medium and so positioned relative to the moving body ofatomized liquid as to cause said jet to impart a whirling motion to themixture of atomizing medium and atomized liquid. 11. An atomizercomprising a body having a chamber, means for feeding a liquid to saidchamber. a nozzle projecting into said chamber and surrounded by theliquid therein, a mixing passage into which the said liquid is atomizedand propelled by an atomlzing medium delivered by said nozzle, and aplurality of ducts for delivering jets of atomizing medium positioned tosurround the moving body of atomizing medium and atomized liquid and tocause said jets to impart a whirling motion to said mixture.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

FLETCHER COLEMAN STARR.

